SEEDSUPPLY to Launch at Takeda’s Shonan Research Center

July 31, 2017

- A biotech venture to be launched under the “Entrepreneurship Venture Program” initiative for Takeda scientists

Osaka, Japan – August 1, 2017 – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited [TSE: 4502], ("Takeda") announced today the launch of SEEDSUPPLY Inc. ("SEEDSUPPLY"), a new biotech company formed through its Entrepreneurship Venture Program (EVP) initiative. Takeda remains deeply committed to enhancing innovation and capabilities in Japan. The EVP initiative was created to promote innovation and an environment of entrepreneurship by combining selected Takeda assets or technologies and outstanding scientists with start-up support. SEEDSUPPLY will offer discovery screening services to global pharmaceutical companies and will be based in the Shonan Research Center. Screening services will include state-of-the-art and unique binder selection technology that will 'SEED' the future project portfolios of its customers.

Through the EVP initiative Takeda will continue to launch additional new biotech-like companies at the Shonan Research Center over the next several months. This will not only encourage and support entrepreneurship amongst Takeda and its employees, but also create an ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship in Japan. These new companies will form the initial ventures to be housed in the Shonan Health Innovation Park promoted by Takeda and intended to provide healthcare solutions for significant unmet medical needs of patients.

Takeda is in the process of transforming its research and development (R&D) organization by focusing on three key therapeutic areas - Oncology, Gastroenterology, and Central Nervous Systems, plus Vaccines. It is also taking steps to concentrate its R&D activities in Japan and the United States. The EVP initiative was created as part of this transformation which aims to provide significant therapeutic options and healthcare solutions to patients, not only in Takeda's therapeutic areas of focus, but also in areas outside of Takeda’s focus where the unmet medical need is high.